Container holder



g- 1965 A. w. NORDFORS 3,199,552

CONTAINER HOLDER Filed Oct. 10. 1961 INVENT I A. WARREN NO Rs MM ATTORNEY P 3,199,552 1C6 Patented A g- 10, 1965 3,1?9552 CONTAENER HOLDER Arthur Warren Nordfors, 676 Jacquelyn Road, Westwcod, NJ. Filed Get. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 144,220 12 Claims. (Cl. 141-313) The present invention relates to an improvement in container filling and closing machines. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a holder for locating and gripping a container in the desired position for filling and closing operations in such a machine. While the holder of the invention may find utility in the processing of many varieties of containers, it is particularly well suited to the handling of the collapsible tube type of con-. tainer for reasons that will be pointed out in the following description of the invention.

Conventional holders commonly used to grasp collapsible tube containers in filling and closing machines are generally comprised of a series of jaws that are urged against the tube wall to, grip the tube in a chuck-like manner when the tube is set into the machine. These jaws are constructed of solid metallic materials making them relatively rigid and unyielding in their grip. Because of the pliable nature of the tube wall, there is a tendency for such jaws to deform or dent the wall. In addition, marriug of the surface of the tube, including the damaging of any printed material that may be on the tube wall, is likely to occur.

An important object of the invention is to provide a holder in a container filling and closing machine that will grip a container firmly, yet will not deform or mar the container wall.

Another object is to provide a holder which is simple in construction so as to promote trouble-free operation and ease of maintenance as well as ease of manufacture.

To accomplish these ends, the holder of the invention is provided with a smooth, tapered passage or duct that guides and locates an incoming tube-like container in a properly oriented position in the filling and closing machine. A seat is provided to support the tube, which seat together with the wall of the passage forms a socket to receive the tube in its proper filling and closing position. Because of the smooth, continuous surface of the passage there is no tendency for the tube to become caught in the passage since there are no obstacles to its travel toward its resting place on the seat. A gripping means is provided to firmly hold the tube in place on the seat. This means is comprised of an annular member that exerts a resilient force against the tube wall completely around its periphery and at a location very near to the top of the tube. It is at this location that the tube wall is most sturdy due to the reinforcement provided by the cone-shaped tube top.

Unlike the conventional multiple jaw gripping means, the resilient means of the invention holds the tube firmly, but yieldingly so that the gripping action is gentle. Because of the yielding, or readily deformable nature of the resilient means, the tube wall is protected from marring. The continuous annular shape of the gripping means provides a positve holding force around the entire periphery of the tube and prevents any denting or dimpling of the tube wall that might occur at gaps between a series of grippers such as found between the jaws of the conventional holder. In addition, the advantages of a one-piece socket-like holder with a continuous annular gripping means over the conventional multiple jaw arrangement with its moving parts in ease of manufacture and maintenance are evident.

For a more complete understanding of the invention,

certain embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partially sectioned, illustrating generally the employment of a holder of the invention in a tube filling and closing machine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a holder of the invention;

FEGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a holder taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a holder illustrating a tubular resilient gripping means;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a holde illustrating a solid resilient gripping means;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a holder illustrating a coil spring resilient gripping means;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a, holder illustrating a split ring resilient means; I

- Throughout the several views, like .parts are referred to by the same reference characters.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, which illustrates a tube holder of the invention in the environment in which it is utilized, a container in the form of a collapsible tube is indicated generally at 1. The tube 1 has a cylindrical wall 2, a conical top 3 with a cap 4, and a bottom end portion 5. The portions of the tube filling and closing machine necessary for a better understanding of the invention comprise a conveyor means 6,. a carrier-7 fixed to the conveyor means and a filling a seating .means 8 incorporating a seating shoulder 9 and a filling spout 10.

The holder of the invention comprises a bodyZii which, in the embodiments illustrated, has a flange portion 21 that cooperates with carrier 7 to maintain the holder in place on the filling and closing machine. A duct or passage 22 is formed in the body 20 and ispreferably tapered from a larger area entrance at 23 to a smaller area as the passage approaches seat 24. Seat 24 is anannular shoulder projecting into the passage and is provided to support the tube when the tube is oriented in the proper position in the holder, as shown, for filling and closing operations. The combination of the smooth, continuous walled passage and the slight taper effects easy manual or automatic loading of the holder with a tube due to the absence of any obstruction in the tube path that may cause the tube to become jammed in the passage and create a machine malfunction. An annular groove v2.5 is formed in the body 20. The groove 25 projects radially outwardly from the passage 22 into the body 29. An annular resilient member 26 is fitted into groove 25. As indicated in FIGURES 3 through 7, annular resilient member 26 projects into passage 22 by reason of the internal diameter of annular member 26 being slightly smaller than the diameter of passage 22;

gripping action than would be obtained with rigid grip ping means. The location of the annular member near the seat allows gripping to take place near the intersection.

of the tube top 3 with the tube wall 2. This particular area is the strongest area, from the standpoint of resisting denting and damage, alonge the length of the tube due to the reinforcement of the tube wall by the cone-shaped top. Since the gripping force is exerted substantially radially inwardly against the tube,-it is important that the force not be great enough to dent or otherwise collapse the tube wall. A distance of up to one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an'inch from the seat has been found to be a practical location for the annular gripping member.

. resiliently enlarge upon the insertion of the tube.

The annular member may be fabricated of any material that will allow the internal diameter of the member to resilient enlargement will supply the necessary radial gripping force. Although metallic materials in the form of readily distortable configurations such as a coil spring or a split ring as illustrated at 26c in FIGURE 6 and at 26:1 in FIGURE 7, respectively, will perform in the required manner, more pliant, easily deformable materials such as felt, rubber, plastics, foam rubber and foam plactics have advantages that make them even more suitable as gripping means. The pliant nature of such materials will protect the tube surface from marring and will not damage printed matter and the like that may be on the tube'surface while still maintaining sufficient gripping force. Because such materials exhibit a higher coefiicient of frictionthan the more rigid metallic materials, less radial force will be required to produce sufiicient gripping force to hold the tube in place on the seat. Annular members such as the tubular rubber or plastic member 26a in FIGURE 4 or the form rubber or form plastic member 26b in FIGURE 5 will effect the desired results. However, an annular member utilizing a U-shaped crosssection as indicated at 26 in FIGURE 3 has been found most practical. In this configuration, the radially outer leg or ring 27 of the U-shape is urged radially outwardly and serves to seat the annular member 26 firmly in groove 25 while the radially inner leg or ring 28 is urged radially inwardly to grip the tube wall. The U-shaped configuration allows a more flexible grip since the gripping action is now obtained from the combination of the resilient expansion of inner ring 28 and the flexing of the base 29 of the U-shaped cross-section when the tube is inserted.

In operation, a tube is fed into the passage automatically or manually. Because of the smooth, tapered configuration of the passage, the tube will readily slide down toward the seat. Normally the tubes own weight will be enought to carry it into gripping relationship with the annular member with the top of the tube being firmly supported upon the seat. However, if the tube is not completely seated on the seat, shoulder 9 of the filling and seating means 8 will engage the tube 1 at bottom portion 5 when the filling and seating means moves vertically downwardly to place filling spout in position in the tube and the tube will be driven into proper position for subsequent filling and closing operations. Upon the completion of such operations, an ejector (not shown) will engage the cap 4 and push the tube vertically upwardly and out of the holder.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as certain details may be modified or changed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes encompassed by the invention.

I claim:

1. A container holder comprising means providing a passage for receiving and guiding a container into a desired position in said holder, said container having a wall and a top, means cooperating with said passage means for supporting said container top to maintain said container in said position, and resilient means closely adjacent said support means and projecting into said passage means near said support means for firmly gripping said container wall near said top and retaining said container in said position, said resilient means being so closely adjacent said container top supporting means as to grip said container wall near enough to the intersection of said wall with-said container top 'to allow the top to reinforce the wall where the wall is gripped.

2. In a machine for filling and closing collapsible container tubes, a tube holder comprising a body, passage means in said body for guiding a tube into proper position in said machine, said tube having a wall and a top, sup- The port means on said body at one end of said passage means for supporting said top and maintaining said tube in said proper position and resilient means in said body closely adjacent said support means and projecting into said passage means near said support means for firmly gripping said tube wall near said top when said tube top is seated on said support means and retaining said tube in said proper position, said resilient means being so closely adjacent said support means as to grip said container wall near enough to the intersection of said wall with said container top to allow the top to reinforce the wall where the wall is gripped.

3. In a machine for filling and closing collapsible container tubes having means for transporting said tubes and a tube filling and seating means, said tubes each having a wall and a top, a tube holder comprising a body supported on said transporting means, a passage running completely through said body for receiving a tube to be filled, a seat on said body for supporting said tube top when said tube is in position to be filled, a groove in said body closely adjacent said seat, and a resilient member in said groove and projecting into said passage near said seat for firmly gripping said tube Wall near said top, when said tube is supported upon said seat and retaining said tube in said filling position, said resilient member being so closely adjacent said seat as to grip said container wall near enough to the intersection of said wall with said container top to allow the top to reinforce. the wall where the wall is gripped.

4. In a machine for filling and closing collapsible container tubes, said tubes each having a wall and a top, a tube holder comprising a passage for receiving and guiding a tube into a proper filling position in said machine, a seat projecting into said passage for supporting said top of said tube when said tube is in said proper position and a pliant member projecting into said passage near said top for gripping said wall of said tube near said top of said tube to firmly hold said tube in said proper position by means of the pliant nature of said member, said pliant member being so near said seat as to grip said container wall near enough to the intersection of said wall with the said container top to allow the top to reinforce the Wall where the wall is gripped.

5. In a machine for filling and closing collapsible container tubes each having a wall and a top, said machine having means for transporting said tubes and a tube seating and filling means, a tube holder comprising a body supported on said transporting means, a passage having a circular cross-section and running completely through said body for receiving a tube to be filled, a seat at one end of said passage for supporting said tube top when said tube is in proper position to be filled, an annular groove in said body adjacent said seat and projecting radially outwardly from said passage into said body, and an annular resilient member seated in said groove and projecting radially inwardly into said passage near said seat for firmly gripping said tube wall near said top when said tube top is seated upon said seat and retaining said tube in said proper position.

6. A tube holder of claim 5 wherein said passage is tapered being smaller in cross-section at said seat than at the entrance to said passage to facilitate the receiving and guiding of said tube into said proper position.

7. A tube holder of claim 5 wherein said annular resilient member has a tubular cross-section, the wall of said tubular cross-section being readily deformable to hold said member in said groove and firmly grip said tube.

3. A tube holder of claim 5 wherein said annular resilient member has a solid cross-section, said member being readily deformable to hold said member in said groove and firmly grip said tube.

9. A tube holder of claim 5 wherein said annular resilient member is a coil spring being readily distortable to hold said member in said groove and firmly grip said tube.

10. A tube holder of claim 5 wherein said annular resilient member is a split ring being readily distortable to hold said member in said groove and firmly grip said tube.

11. A tube holder of claim 5 wherein said annular resilient member has a U-shaped cross-section whereby the legs of the said U-shaped cross-section serve to hold said member in said groove and firmly grip said tube.

12. In a machine for filling and closing collapsible container tubes having means for transporting said tubes and a tube seating and filling means, a tube holder comprising a cylindrical body supported on said transporting means, a passage having a circular cross-section and running axially longitudinally completely through said body for receiving and guiding a tube into proper position to be filled, a seat at one end of said passage for supporting said tube when said tube is in position to be filled, said passage being tapered from a relatively larger area entrance to a relatively smaller area toward said seat for ease of entrance of said tube into said passage and for guiding said tube into proper alignment upon said seat, an annular groove in the wall of said body adjacent said seat and projecting radially outwardly from said passage, and a continuous, resilient annular member in said groove, said member having a U-shaped cross-section, one leg of said U-shaped cross-section being resiliently urged substantially radially outwardly to seat said member in said groove and the other leg of said U-shaped cross-section being resiliently urged radially inwardly and projecting into said passage to firmly grip said tube completely around its perimeter when said tube is seated upon said seat and retain said tube in said proper position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER HOLDER COMPRISING MEANS PROVIDING A PASSAGE FOR RECEIVING AND GUIDING A CONTAINER INTO A DESIRED POSITION IN SAID HOLDER, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A WALL AND A TOP, MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID PASSAGE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID CONTAINER TOP TO MAINTAIN SAID CONTAINER IN SAID POSITION, AND RESILIENT MEANS CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND PROJECTING INTO SAID PASSAGE MEANS NEAR SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR FIRMLY GRIPPING SAID CONTAINER WALL NEAR SAID TOP AND RETAINING SAID CONTAINER IN SAID POSITION, SAID RESILIENT MEANS BEING SO CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID CONTAINER TO SUPPORTING MEANS AS TO GRIP SAID CONTAINER WALL NEAR ENOUGH TO THE INTERSECTION OF SAID WALL WITH SAID CONTAINER TOP TO ALLOW THE TOP TO REINFORCE THE WALL WHERE THE WALL IS GRIPPED. 